Tool For Construction Research Articles

Construction of Protein Sequence Databases for Metaproteomics: A Review of the Current Tools and Databases.

In metaproteomics studies, constructing a reference protein sequence database that is both comprehensive and not overly large is critical for the peptide identification step. Therefore, the availability of well-curated reference databases and tools for custom database construction is essential to enhance the performance of metaproteomics analyses. In this review, we first provide an overview of metaproteomics by presenting a concise historical background, outlining a typical experimental and bioinformatics workflow, emphasizing the crucial step of constructing a protein sequence database for metaproteomics. We then delve into the current tools available for building such databases, highlighting their individual approaches, utility, and advantages and limitations. Next, we examine existing protein sequence databases, detailing their scope and relevance in metaproteomics research. Then, we provide practical recommendations for constructing protein sequence databases for metaproteomics, along with an overview of the current challenges in this area. We conclude with a discussion of anticipated advancements, emerging trends, and future directions in the construction of protein sequence databases for metaproteomics.

Roots tourism experiences, identity construction, social equity and social justice: a mixed methods approach

ABSTRACT The incidence of African diaspora’s pilgrimage to their ancestral motherland in Africa has recently increased. Indeed, initiatives such as the Black Travel Movement and Year of Return have increased the desire for black diasporans to ‘go back home’. Evidence in the literature illustrates that this homecoming is a deliberate effort towards identity construction. Using a mixed-method research approach (and W.E.B Du Bois’s sociological; terror management, and substantive identity negotiation theories), this study examined root tourism’s effects on identity construction, social justice, and equity using data from the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles in Ghana. The study’s key outcome shows root tourism’s power to influence social justice and human rights equality. Furthermore, the study discovered that terror management and substantive identity negotiation theories are limited in their relevance to non-Western contexts. This study demonstrates how managers of tourism firms can rightly position root tourism as a distinct tool for identity construction, social justice and social equity. The study also discusses its implications, limitations and future studies.

Constructing phylogenetic trees for microbiome data analysis: A mini-review

As next-generation sequencing technologies advance rapidly and the cost of metagenomic sequencing continues to decrease, researchers now face an unprecedented volume of microbiome data. This surge has stimulated the development of scalable microbiome data analysis methods and necessitated the incorporation of phylogenetic information into microbiome analysis for improved accuracy. Tools for constructing phylogenetic trees from 16S rRNA sequencing data are well-established, as the highly conserved regions of the 16S gene are limited, simplifying the identification of marker genes. In contrast, metagenomic and whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing involve sequencing from random fragments of the entire gene, making identification of consistent marker genes challenging owing to the vast diversity of genomic regions, resulting in a scarcity of robust tools for constructing phylogenetic trees. Although bacterial sequence tree construction tools exist for upstream bioinformatics, many downstream researchers—those integrating these trees into statistical models or machine learning—are either unaware of these tools or find them difficult to use due to the steep learning curve of processing raw sequences. This is compounded by the fact that public datasets often lack phylogenetic trees, providing only abundance tables and taxonomic classifications. To address this, we present a comprehensive review of phylogenetic tree construction techniques for microbiome data (16S rRNA or whole-genome shotgun sequencing). We outline the strengths and limitations of current methods, offering expert insights and step-by-step guidance to make these tools more accessible and widely applicable in quantitative microbiome data analysis.

A module layout design tool for off-site factory construction: Reactor Auxiliary balance of plant systems case study

There is significant interest in off-site modular factory construction for nuclear power. The IAEA defines Small Modular Reactors as “factory shop built and transported to site” and lists over 30 water cooled, 14 high temperature, 10 fast neutron, 10 molten salt, and 8 micro reactors in development worldwide. Off-site modular construction is a new development and offers more reliability in the construction and nuclear industries. A tool to help designers navigate the plethora of increased options and design challenges that modular design presents has therefore been identified as possibly increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the design process, especially in the concept design phase. This study found that the method can create a starting point for design engineers to iterate and improve designs, significantly reduce design time in finding improved solutions, and improve performance and reduce costs associated with pipe length and network flows around the plant.

A digital tool for life cycle assessment in construction projects

The building and construction industry is responsible for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, driving the urgent need for new regulations. As such, the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology has become fundamental for evaluating environmental impacts. Despite the need for digital tools to support environmental performance evaluations, the lack of guidance on developing such tools hinders their implementation. This article presents an automated configuration approach to develop digital tools in construction, which facilitates the proactive comparison of design choices and reduces CO2 emissions. We demonstrate its application by implementing it at Heidelberg Materials Cement Sverige in Sweden. The results reveal that the LCA digital tool influences decision-making and efficiently quantifies global warming potential in the early project stages and reduces product-related CO2 emissions by up to 40%. Furthermore, the findings highlight greater accuracy in LCA calculations compared to current manual methods and quicker design iterations thanks to real-time information.

Negligible Building Failures in Rivers State — A Literature Review

Through an in-depth literature review, this study explores the factors influencing the minimal building failures in Rivers State, Nigeria. Unlike many other regions, Rivers State is renowned for its exceptionally low rate of structural failures, highlighting a stark contrast to widespread construction safety issues elsewhere. The study identifies several critical factors behind this achievement: strict legal frameworks, premium building materials, skilled labor, successful community collaboration, favorable environmental conditions, and technological integration. The findings emphasize the importance of upholding strict building regulations and norms to maintain high construction standards. Regular inspections and compliance checks ensure adherence to defined safety protocols, significantly reducing the likelihood of structural problems. The study also underscores the significance of superior building materials and advanced technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and smart construction tools, in enhancing project planning and execution. A proficient labor force, continuously trained and certified, is essential for achieving construction excellence. Ongoing professional development programs keep workers updated on the latest methods and safety precautions. Additionally, positive community engagement is crucial for monitoring construction activities, with residents actively reporting deviations from approved plans and unsafe practices, fostering a culture of accountability and vigilance. Favorable environmental conditions, including stable geographical and climatic factors, contribute to the rarity of building failures. Mandatory environmental impact assessments for new projects ensure potential risks are identified and mitigated early in the planning process. Rivers State’s economic stability supports sustained investment in infrastructure and maintenance, facilitated by government initiatives that encourage the use of high-quality building materials. Technological integration, particularly through real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, further enhances construction safety by enabling continuous oversight and timely interventions, thus reducing the risk of failures. Rivers State’s approach to construction safety offers valuable lessons for other regions aiming to improve building standards and reduce structural failure rates. This comprehensive analysis highlights the necessity of a multifaceted strategy to enhance and maintain building integrity, resulting in safer and more resilient built environments.

Lightweight detection of small tools for safer construction

Construction sites present significant potential safety hazards to the workers, with hand tools being a major source of injuries. This paper presents a Lightweight approach for Small Tools Detection (LSTD) method using a deep neural network for real-time detection of small construction tools. LSTD utilizes a lightweight backbone with Dynamic Feature Extraction, Accurate Separated Head, and Integrated Feature Fusion, reducing parameters by 73% and computations by 28% versus YOLOv5 while achieving 87.3% mean Average Precision (mAP) on challenging construction site datasets. Additional modules enhance detection recall and robustness to appearance variation and scale changes. Extensive experiments demonstrate LSTD's superior performance in misty conditions and illumination changes. With high accuracy in a compact 2.87 M parameter network, LSTD brings ubiquitous worker safety monitoring via edge devices closer to reality. The proposed model marks a significant advancement in improving safety in high-risk construction environments.

Expanding the genetic toolbox for Neisseria meningitidis with efficient tools for unmarked gene editing, complementation, and labeling.

The efficient natural transformation of Neisseria meningitidis allows the rapid construction of bacterial mutants in which the genes of interest are interrupted or replaced by antibiotic-resistance cassettes. However, this proved to be a double-edged sword, i.e., although facilitating the genetic characterization of this important human pathogen, it has limited the development of strategies for constructing markerless mutants without antibiotic-resistance markers. In addition, efficient tools for complementation or labeling are also lacking in N. meningitidis. In this study, we significantly expand the meningococcal genetic toolbox by developing new and efficient tools for the construction of markerless mutants (using a dual counterselection strategy), genetic complementation (using integrative vectors), and cell labeling (using a self-labeling protein tag). This expanded toolbox paves the way for more in-depth genetic characterization of N. meningitidis and might also be useful in other Neisseria species.IMPORTANCENeisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are two important human pathogens. Research focusing on these bacteria requires genetic engineering, which is facilitated by their natural ability to undergo transformation. However, the ease of mutant engineering has led the Neisseria community to neglect the development of more sophisticated tools for gene editing, particularly for N. meningitidis. In this study, we have significantly expanded the meningococcal genetic toolbox by developing novel and efficient tools for markerless mutant construction, genetic complementation, and cell tagging. This expanded toolbox paves the way for more in-depth genetic characterization of N. meningitidis and might also be useful in other Neisseria species.

Exploring the Practical Application of Polygamy as a Relevant Tool for Social Construction in Post-Colonial Igbo Land

Polygamy is such an ugly term in various discourses. Many Africans have grown up hating the concept. This is because of the influences of the Africans. With colonialism came slavery and westernization. Polygamy became consigned to the past and all that was wrong with the past, like the killing of twins in some Nigerian communities prior to the coming of the British. Hence various people would be ashamed that their roots were ever associated with polygamy. It is simply a fact that polygamy has a lot of drawbacks. In recent times, however, people’s perceptions about it have begun to change. Part of the reason is the social problem created by the non-marital status of numerous young and old women who have attained marital age but are unable to get attached to male partners. The writer has observed this phenomenon for years and was prompted to conduct research on it. He is of the conviction that the practice may be reviewed. This is where writers have a role to play. Materials for the research were obtained mainly from journal articles and books on social issues.

Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of Oxacyclic Allenes and α-Pyrones.

Reactions of α-pyrones with oxacyclic allenes in Diels-Alder trappings are described. We investigate regioselectivity trends and perform competition experiments to assess the influence of structural and electronic features on relative reaction rates. We also demonstrate the stereospecific trapping of an oxacyclic allene, which proceeds in high optical yield. This study provides insight into strained cyclic allene reactivity, as well as new synthetic tools for the rapid construction of complex, heterocyclic scaffolds.

Unpacking expert teachers’ theory construction experiences: a case study

ABSTRACT This case study uses qualitative data generated over three years to explore how a Chinese expert teacher constructs her personal practical theory (PPT) about teaching. The data analysis showed that the teacher successfully constructed a personally relevant, institutionally expected, and socio-culturally embedded PPT that manifested her teaching beliefs. The teacher constructed the PPT through five essential and interrelated steps: (a) identifying effective teaching practice; (b) crystalising a core concept from effective teaching; (c) proposing theoretical tenets around the core concept; (d) configuring the theoretical tenets into a preliminary PPT; (e) refining the PPT in relevant communities. The theory construction experience deepened the teacher’s understanding of teaching and enhanced her confidence in engaging with educational theories and university-based scholars. However, the teacher’s lack of knowledge about educational theories and hands-on tools for theory construction posed significant challenges to the teacher. This study generates new empirical evidence and conceptual insights into teacher theory construction, enriching international discussions on the theory-practice gap in education. The research findings also suggest practical implications for frontline teachers, facilitating their engagement with theories to close the theory-practice divide in their situated contexts.

A Recyclable Inorganic Lanthanide Cluster Catalyst for Chemoselective Aerobic Oxidation of Thiols.

Optimizing lanthanide catalyst performance with organic ligands often encounters significant challenges, including susceptibility to water or oxygen and complex synthesis pathways. To address these issues, our research focuses on developing inorganic lanthanide clusters with enhanced stability and functionality. In this study, we introduce the [Sm6O(OH)8(H2O)24]I8(H2O)8 cluster (Sm-OC) as a sustainable and efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of thiols under heating conditions. The Sm-OC catalyst demonstrated remarkable stability, outstanding recyclability, and excellent chemoselectivity across a diverse range of functional groups in 38 different tests. Notably, it enables efficient unsymmetrical disulfide synthesis and prevents the formation of over-oxidized by-products, highlighting its superior performance. This Sm-OC catalyst provides a practical and robust tool for the precise construction of versatile disulfides, thus establishing a template for the broader use of lanthanide clusters in organic synthesis.

Fuzzy rule–based control of multireservoir operation system for flood and drought mitigation in the Upper Mun River Basin

Strategic reservoir operation, a primary water management measures, plays a significant role in mitigating floods and droughts. Since the reservoir operation involves making complicated decisions on uncertain hydrological variables driven by climate variability, therefore, constructive tool for decision making like fuzzy logic is essential to optimize reservoir management and ensure water security. This study demonstrated fuzzy logic application to multiple reservoir operation in tropical region like Thailand. A Fuzzy Rule–Based Model (FRBM) exploiting FL approach was developed to control the upstream reservoir operation in the Upper Mun River Basin (UMRB) using the data from 2008 to 2021. Implementing FRBM for UMRB was conducted by identifying two key variables; available water storage and 7–day ahead predicted inflow, as fuzzy inputs. The fuzzy output of the system is the release fraction determined by three operational condition modules; flood, neutral, and drought. For flood module, fuzzy release is primarily determined by the predicted inflow. However, the determination of reservoir release for drought and neutral modules is influenced by the targeted water demand. The results of base case illustrate the capability of FRBM in increasing reservoir storages at the start of dry season by 123.56 MCM/yr in UMRB due to the new daily release schemes generated. This allows supplying water closer to the theoretical agricultural needs and gross irrigation water requirement potentially reducing the risk of water shortfall during consecutive dry years. Whereas, the maximum fuzzy release is constrained corresponding to safe channel capacity of tributaries and Upper Mun river, therefore, downstream flooding is accordingly prevented.

FREQUENT CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS BY THE FORMATION OF THE IRAQ IMAGE IN THE GERMAN FEDERAL MEDIA

The conceptual metaphor as a linguistic phenomenon defining our perception and evaluation has a rich research tradition. Against the background of modern selective ideologized information and information fatigue of the mass addressee, interest in conceptual metaphor as a tool for discursive construction of social reality, including the formation and replication of the media image of the country, its stereotyping, is increasing. The purpose of the study is to identify the leading conceptual metaphors in the formation of the image of Iraq in the German federal media, to characterize their nominative fields, to identify the features they introduce into the portrait of the country. Methodology. The material of the analysis is the publications of the German federal media devoted to Iraq in the period from 2019 to the present. The object of the analysis is the contexts selected by the continuous sampling method for the implementation of frequency conceptual metaphors. Contextual, definitional analysis and quantitative calculations are used. Results. As the main conceptual metaphors involved in the formation of the image of Iraq, the metaphors "Iraq is a place of uncontrolled power", "Iraq is a living being", "Iraq is an incomplete whole", "Iraq is a theater" are highlighted. The first metaphor is dominant in terms of frequency and density of the nominative field; the least productive is the last of the named metaphors. Metaphors are implemented by constituents of certain semantic fields, and they introduce significant features into the created portrait of the country. Practical implications. The results obtained contribute to the further development of imagology, the study of discursive, metaphorical construction of reality, the relationship of mental, linguistic and social processes; they can be used in the training of specialists in the field of political communication, monitoring of media and social processes, and can also be useful to political technologists.

Huellas creativas de la obra <i>Los otros hombres en Eva</i>

This article shares the methodological guidelines carried out by the actors/researchers of the IPROCAE research group (Investigation of Creative Processes in performing Arts) belonging to the Facultad de Arte of the UNCPBA, and its main objetive is to study their own performing practice simultaneously with their realization in the work Los otros hombres en Eva. The análisis of the creative process is developed base don the study of the genesis, on the figure of Eva Duarte de Peron and the different artistic approaches related to her mummification; examining the relationship between Theater and politics, in the form of militant theater of the 70s in Argentina; and reflexionating about the role of chance, or the existing random processes in the production of the contemporary Theater field, where it is used as a creative procedure and scenic construction tool.

The Polish version of the Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT)-The measure of processes of change in psychological interventions.

The aim of this study was to conduct a Polish adaptation of Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT), to be used primarily for measurement of the processes of change occurring within psychological interventions, regardless of the therapeutic approach. PBAT includes a set of statements related to negative and positive behaviors in the domains of selection, variation, and retention, as it is theoretically embedded in the evolutionary approach. The tool's construction was determined by resolving the issue of ergodic error, hence employs an idiographic approach. A total of 602 (319 F, 281 M) participants in the age 18-85 took part in the study. Apart from the original 21 PBAT items, two additional items related to self-care vs. self-impatience were tested. The included criterion variables related to the assessment of individual functioning in terms of distress (sadness, anxiety, stress, anger, lack of social support), health (health and vitality levels), the fulfillment or frustration of autonomy, connection, and competence need, as well as well-being (life-satisfaction and sense of professional burnout). The machine learning Boruta algorithm was utilized. PBAT items significantly predicted criterion variables. Positive selection behaviors were strongest predictors of Health, Vitality, Life-satisfaction as well as satisfaction of autonomy, connection and competence needs. Negative selection behaviors were strongest predictors of distress, lack of social support, work burnout as well as the frustration of autonomy, connection and competence needs. Overall, the PBAT items were more predictive of variables encompassing negative aspects of functioning than positive aspects or well-being. The overall relationships and conclusions are consistent with those obtained in the original study. The Polish version of PBAT is recommended for use in further scientific research and therapeutic processes.

From poverty to prosperity: assessing of sustainable poverty reduction effect of “welfare-to-work” in Chinese counties

The “welfare-to-work” program is a comprehensive supportive policy in the 14th five-year plan period in China. In this paper, a systematical assessment of the long-run effectiveness of the welfare-to-work policy on poverty reduction is of great significance to stimulate the internal impetus of people who are lifted out of poverty to achieve income growth and prosperity and promote regional economic development. Based on the data at the county (city) level in China from 2000 to 2019 and the sustainable development theory, in this paper, a county-relative poverty evaluation system was constructed. Besides, the double difference method was employed to evaluate the effect of the welfare-to-work policy on poverty reduction and test its action mechanism. The findings are as follows: (1) the welfare-to-work policy has a significant poverty reduction effect and presents an inverted “U” shape. In addition, significant achievements have been made in “maintaining employment stability, ensuring income, strengthening skills, and supporting the economy” ; (2) the welfare-to-work policy boosts poverty reduction in counties through infrastructure construction, fiscal intervention, and financial tools; however, the financial tools play a positive role in poverty reduction in the northwest region and suppressed role in the southwest region, and has an insignificant effect in the central region; and (3) there are differences in the effect of poverty alleviation policies of the counties with different sustainable development levels, and the regions with higher development level have a stronger driving effect.

Development of a Multi-Robot System for Pier Construction

The construction industry is a challenging field for the application of robots. In particular, bridge construction, which involves many tasks at great heights, makes it difficult to implement robots. To construct a bridge, it is necessary to build numerous piers that can support the bridge deck. Pier construction involves a series of tasks including rebar connection, formwork installation, concrete pouring, formwork dismantling, and formwork reinstallation. These activities require working at heights, presenting a significant risk of falls. If bridge construction could be performed remotely using robots instead of relying on human labor, it would greatly contribute to the safety of bridge construction. This paper proposes a multi-robot system capable of remote operation and automation for rebar structure connection, concrete pouring, and concrete vibrating tasks in pier construction. The proposed multi-robot system for pier construction is composed of three robot systems. Each robot system consists of a robot arm mounted on a mobile robot that can move along rails. And to apply the proposed system to a construction site, it is essential to implement a compliance control algorithm that adapts to external forces. In this paper, we propose an admittance control that takes into account the weight of the tool for the compliance control of the proposed robot, which performs tasks by switching between various construction tools of different weights. Furthermore, we propose a synchronization control method for the multi-robot system to connect reinforcing structures. We validated the proposed algorithm through simulation. Furthermore, we developed a prototype of the proposed system to verify the feasibility of the suggested hardware design and control.

Emerging Aspects of Triazole in Organic Synthesis: Exploring its Potential as a Gelator.

Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC) - commonly known as the "click reaction" - serves as the most effective and highly reliable tool for facile construction of simple to complex designs at the molecular level. It relates to the formation of carbon heteroatomic systems by joining or clicking small molecular pieces together with the help of various organic reactions such as cycloaddition, conjugate addition, ring-opening, etc. Such dynamic strategy results in the generation of triazole and its derivatives from azides and alkynes with three nitrogen atoms in the five-membered aromatic azole ring that often forms gel-assembled structures having gelating properties. These scaffolds have led to prominent applications in designing advanced soft materials, 3D printing, ion sensing, drug delivery, photonics, separation, and purification. In this review, we mainly emphasize the different mechanistic aspects of triazole formation, which includes the synthesis of sugar-based and non-sugar-based triazoles, and their gel applications reported in the literature for the past ten years, as well as the upcoming scope in different branches of applied sciences.

Geopatial Technologies in Civil Engineering : A Critical Literature

This study investigates the role of geospatial technologies in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of civil engineering projects. Geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial analysis, have revolutionized the field of civil engineering by providing critical tools for planning, design, construction, and management of infrastructure projects. The integration of these technologies enables accurate terrain mapping, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making, which are crucial for ensuring the safety, sustainability, and resilience of modern infrastructure. This research aims to explore the applications of geospatial technologies in various civil engineering projects, including highway planning, urban development, and environmental monitoring. The study also examines the potential benefits and limitations of these technologies and provides recommendations for their effective integration into civil engineering practices. By understanding the impact of geospatial technologies on civil engineering projects, this research aims to contribute to the development of more efficient, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure that supports the needs of modern society.